United Nations, June 9 (FN Agency) Almost 300 children were evacuated from Sudan’s capital of Khartoum to a safer, undisclosed location in the country, a UN spokesman said on Thursday. “The International Committee for the Red Cross facilitated the evacuation of the children and dozens of caretakers,” said Stephane Dujarric, the chief spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. They were staying in the Mygoma orphanage in Khartoum. At least 70 children reportedly died in Mygoma since the conflict in Sudan began on April 15. The spokesman said the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) supports the orphan’s medical care, feeding and other needs while they are under the care of the social welfare and health ministries. The fund is working with authorities to identify foster families for the children. UNICEF said it supports rehabilitating and preparing the transit center where the red cross relocated the orphans.
“The safe movement of these incredibly vulnerable children to a place of safety offers a ray of light in the midst of the ongoing conflict in Sudan,” said Mandeep O’Brien, UNICEF representative in Sudan. The fund said that more than 13.6 million children urgently need lifesaving humanitarian support, the highest number ever recorded in the country. The impact of violence continues to threaten the futures of families and children, leaving essential services cut off and many health facilities closed, damaged, or destroyed. The UNICEF is calling for 838 million U.S. dollars to address the crisis, an increase of 253 million. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said that since May 21, at least 188 trucks carrying relief reached states across Sudan, including Khartoum, Aj Jazirah, Red Sea, Kassala, Gedaref, Sennar, River Nile, Blue Nile and Northern states. The world body and its humanitarian partners are planning for an additional 41 truck movements.